There Are Seats Waiting For You

There’s something poetic about tables. The way they gather us together, the way they hold stories—half-empty glasses of bubbly, wrinkled napkins, crumbs that feel like little reminders that something happened here. Conversations flowed, laughter rang out, hearts were seen. And yet, not every table is one you’ve arrived at yet. Not every story has unfolded like a blossom napkin falling perfectly into your lap. Some are still waiting for you.

There are seats waiting for you at tables you haven’t come across yet.

I know it feels like you're running late. Like everyone else is finding their place, pulling out chairs, settling into friendships, careers, love stories, and you’re still wandering around the edges, waiting for a seat to open up. It’s that strange, heart-sinking feeling when it seems like everyone else has been invited to the party, and your invite got lost in the mail.

But here’s the thing: you’re not behind. You’re not forgotten. The tables that are meant for you—the ones where you’ll sit and feel seen, where the conversation will flow effortlessly, where you won’t have to squeeze into a corner to fit—they are waiting for you. Just as you are.

There’s a reason you haven’t found those tables yet.

Maybe you’re still becoming the version of yourself who’s meant to sit there. Maybe those seats are meant for someone who’s grown through the waiting, the heartache, the process. Maybe, just maybe, you’re still becoming someone you’ll be proud to bring to those tables.

We forget that not all tables are worth our time. Some are too crowded with noise that never stops long enough to listen to you. Others, too full of people who only know the polished version of themselves, the parts they show the world. But your tables, the ones where you’ll sink into your seat and feel safe to be exactly who you are—that’s a different kind of table. That’s one you don’t want to rush to.

Those tables are different. They are rare.

There are tables where your thoughts will be celebrated, your stories cherished, and your quiet moments understood. They’re the ones where you won’t have to pretend, where you’ll be seen for everything you are, without explanation or apology. And those tables? They’re waiting for you, but they’re not rushing you. They know you’ll arrive when the time is right.

And when you arrive, you’ll feel it.

The warmth of the room will wrap around you like an old friend. The chairs won’t feel too small or too hard. The space won’t be crowded. There will be room for you—room for your fears and your dreams, your imperfections and your hopes. And the best part? The people around that table will have been waiting for you all along. They will have kept your seat warm, knowing you were always meant to join them.

Because here's the truth no one tells you: the right tables wait. The right people will wait for you to show up when you’re ready, not when you think you should be. You don’t have to rush. You don’t have to push your way in. There’s a spot with your name on it, saved for the exact moment you’re meant to sit down and fully arrive.

You’re not late. You’re just not there yet.

So if you’re still wandering, still searching, still feeling like the seats are all taken—breathe. It’s not over. You haven’t missed your chance. There are still tables waiting for you, still spaces that have been carved out for your voice, your presence, your energy. The best is still ahead.

Trust the process. Trust that one day, you’ll walk into a room, and the table will be set for you. The candles will be lit, the glasses will sparkle, and you’ll know—this is where you belong. This is where your story continues.

Until then, we keep walking, keep dreaming, and keep believing that the best tables—filled with love, laughter, and everything we’ve ever hoped for—are still to come. Because they are.

They’re waiting for you.

And when you find them, you’ll wonder how you ever doubted.

Payton x